VBScript Math Functions

last modified April 4, 2025

VBScript provides a set of built-in math functions for performing mathematical operations. These functions help with calculations, rounding, trigonometry, and more. This tutorial covers VBScript math functions with practical examples to demonstrate their usage in real-world scenarios.

VBScript Math Functions Overview

VBScript includes essential math functions through the VBScript runtime library. These functions operate on numeric values and return results based on the operation. Common functions include Abs, Round, Sqr, Int, Fix, and trigonometric functions.

Math functions are crucial for financial calculations, data analysis, and scientific computations. They help perform operations that would otherwise require complex custom code. Understanding these functions is essential for effective VBScript programming.

Abs Function

The Abs function returns the absolute value of a number, which is its value without any sign. It converts negative numbers to positive while leaving positive numbers unchanged. This is useful for distance calculations.

abs_function.vbs

Dim num1, num2, result1, result2 num1 = -15.75 num2 = 20.5 result1 = Abs(num1) result2 = Abs(num2)

WScript.Echo “Absolute value of " & num1 & " is " & result1 WScript.Echo “Absolute value of " & num2 & " is " & result2

This example demonstrates the Abs function with both negative and positive numbers. The first variable shows conversion from negative to positive, while the second remains unchanged. The results are displayed using WScript.Echo.

Round Function

The Round function returns a number rounded to a specified number of decimal places. It follows standard rounding rules (up if 5 or higher). This is essential for financial calculations where precision matters.

round_function.vbs

Dim value1, value2, rounded1, rounded2 value1 = 3.14159 value2 = 2.71828 rounded1 = Round(value1, 2) rounded2 = Round(value2, 3)

WScript.Echo “Rounded to 2 decimals: " & rounded1 WScript.Echo “Rounded to 3 decimals: " & rounded2

This example shows rounding pi and e to different decimal places. The first rounds to 2 decimals (3.14), the second to 3 decimals (2.718). Notice how the function handles the digits beyond the specified precision.

Sqr Function

The Sqr function calculates the square root of a number. It only works with non-negative numbers. Attempting to use it with negative values will result in a runtime error. This is useful for geometric calculations.

sqr_function.vbs

Dim number1, number2, root1, root2 number1 = 25 number2 = 2 root1 = Sqr(number1) root2 = Sqr(number2)

WScript.Echo “Square root of " & number1 & " is " & root1 WScript.Echo “Square root of " & number2 & " is " & root2

This example calculates square roots of perfect and imperfect squares. The first returns an integer (5), while the second returns an irrational number (1.4142135623731). The function handles both cases appropriately.

Int and Fix Functions

Int and Fix both return the integer portion of a number. The difference is how they handle negative numbers: Int returns the first negative integer less than or equal, while Fix returns the first integer greater than or equal (truncates toward zero).

int_fix_function.vbs

Dim posNum, negNum, intPos, fixPos, intNeg, fixNeg posNum = 9.99 negNum = -9.99 intPos = Int(posNum) fixPos = Fix(posNum) intNeg = Int(negNum) fixNeg = Fix(negNum)

WScript.Echo “Int of positive: " & intPos WScript.Echo “Fix of positive: " & fixPos WScript.Echo “Int of negative: " & intNeg WScript.Echo “Fix of negative: " & fixNeg

This example highlights the difference between Int and Fix functions. For positive numbers, both return the same result (9). For negative numbers, Int returns -10 while Fix returns -9. This distinction is important for certain calculations.

Rnd and Randomize Functions

The Rnd function generates a random number between 0 and 1. Randomize initializes the random number generator with a seed based on the system timer. Together they’re useful for simulations and games.

rnd_function.vbs

Dim i, randomNum Randomize

For i = 1 To 5 randomNum = Int((100 * Rnd) + 1) ’ 1-100 WScript.Echo “Random number " & i & “: " & randomNum Next

This example generates five random numbers between 1 and 100. Randomize ensures different sequences on each run. The formula scales Rnd’s output (0-1) to the desired range (1-100). Int ensures whole numbers.

Source

VBScript Math Functions Documentation

In this article, we have explored the essential VBScript math functions, covering their syntax and practical applications. From basic operations like absolute values and rounding to more advanced concepts like random number generation, these functions form the foundation for mathematical operations in VBScript. With these examples, you can now implement robust mathematical calculations in your scripts.

Author

My name is Jan Bodnar and I am a passionate programmer with many years of programming experience. I have been writing programming articles since 2007. So far, I have written over 1400 articles and 8 e-books. I have over eight years of experience in teaching programming.

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